Mounting means for an electrical connector



Nov. 12, 1963 T. REES ETAL 3,110,533

MOUNTING MEANS FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 26, 1962 lrwwww rINV EN TOR 5' 6L m 7.- REES y ROBE/P7 E/74/V50/V Unite The presentinvention relates to a mounting meansfor an electrical connector. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a mounting means formaintaining an electrical connector in a substantially fixed position.

The present invention provides a novel mounting means for an electricalconnector having a plurality of threepiece units with transversepassageways. According to the present invention, a bar extends throughthe transverse passageways and maintains the three-piece units inside-by-side alignment. Bar-receiving means is provided on the oppositesides of the electrical connector which receive the ends of the bar. Theends of the bar are rigidly secured within the bar-receiving meanswhereby the electrical connector is maintained in a substantially fixedposition.

The principal objects of this invention include:

To provide a novel mounting means for rigidly securing an electricalconnector in a substantially fixed position;

To provide a novel mounting means wherein a plurality of three-pieceunits, each comprising an electrical connector, are maintained inside-by-side relation;

To provide a novel mounting means whereby an electrical connector may berapidly and easily secured in a fixed position; and

To provide a novel mounting means whereby an electrical connector may berapidly and easily removed from the fixed position.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description by reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a base portion of an enclosure housing anelectrical connector which is secured therein by means of the presentmounting means;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1and further illustrating the enclosure, the electrical connector and thepresent mounting means;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded, fragmentary, isometric view illustrating apreferred embodiment of a bar-receiving means of the present invention;and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are exploded, fragmentary, isometric views, similar toFIGURE 3, illustrating alternative embodiments of a bar-receiving meansof the present invention.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 there is illustrated an enclosure 19 housing anelectrical connector 11 which is secured therein by a mounting means 12of the present invention.

Enclosure The enclosure 10 as herein illustrated represents a convenientmeans for housing the electrical connector 11 and to which the mountingmeans 12 may be easily adapted. The enclosure 10 includes a base portion13 and a cover portion 14.

The base portion 13, as seen in FIGURE 1, comprises side walls 15, anend wall 16 and a front wall 17 having an arcuate lip 13 formed thereinin the central upper edge thereof. The base portion 13 also includes abot- Sstates Patent G tom wall portion 19 having a first cable aperture20 provided therein.

The cover portion 14, as seen in FIGURE 2, comprises side walls 15a, endwall 16a, and a front wall 17a having an arcuate lip 18a formed in thecentral lower edge thereof. When the cover portion 14 is placed over thebase portion 13, the side walls 15, 15a; the end walls 16, 16a; and thefront walls 17, 17a are in registry whereby they form the enclosure 10.Further the arcuate lips 18, 18a also are in registry thereby forming asecond cable aperture 21.

A pair of lugs 22 is provided on upstanding arms 23 extending from thefront wall 17 of the base portion 13. The lugs 22 engage lug-receivingapertures 24- provided in the front wall 17a of the cover portion 14.

The end wall 16a (see FIGURE 2) extends downwardly in engagement withthe end wall 16 of the base port-ion 13. A fastener such as screw 25-extends through the end wall 16 and is threadedly engaged in the endwall 16.2. In this manner the cover portion is secured to the baseportion 13.

The base portion 13 may be secured to a base cup 26, embedded in aconcrete floor 27, by means of screws 28. The base cup 26 providescommunication between the enclosure 10 and an electrical raceway (notshown) beneath the surface of .the concrete floor 27.

Electrical Connector 1] Referring still to FIGURES 1 and 2, theelectrical connector 11 comprises a plurality of three-piece units 29.Each of the three-piece units 29 comprises a male confronted faces inspaced relation.

A flange 34 is provided on one end of each plug 30, 31. The flanges 34are a continuation of the confronted faces 32 and extend in oppositedirections from each other. Fastener means such as bolts 35 extendthrough each flange 34 and into the plug opposite thereto. The bolts 35maintain the male and female plugs 30, 31 in engagement.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the three piece units 29 have a pair oftransverse passageways 36 each being defined by the flange 34, the bolt35, one end of the spacer member 33 and the face opposite the flange 34.

The male plugs 3% have cables 30a extending therefrom which unite toform a running cable 37. The runn-ing cable 37 passes through the firstcable aperture 20 and into the base cup 26. The female plugs 31 alsohave cables 31a extending therefrom which unite to form a mounting cable38. The mounting cable 38 passes through the second aperture 21 and outof the enclosure 16*.

Mounting means 12 The preferred embodiment of the mountingrneans 12 isillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 as adapted to the enclosure 10 and inFIGURE 3 on an enlarged scale.

The mounting means 12 preferably comprises a pair of bars 40 having ends4-1 which project beyond the sides of the electrical connector 11 andbar-receiving means 42 on the opposite side walls 15 of the base portion13.

The bars 40 prefer-ably are flat bars which extend through thetransverse passageways 36 of the three-piece units 29. The bars 40 thusmaintain the three-piece units in side-by-side alignment. It should beevident that a single bar '40 may be used to secure the electricalconnector 11 to the enclosure 10.

The bar-receiving means 42, as shown in FIGURE 3, comprises a bosselement 43 extending inwardly firom each side wall 15 and has alongitudinal slot 44 formed therein. The ends 41 of the bars 4-0 areinserted in the slot 44- and are disposed in tight fitting engagementtherewith. If desired a fastener such as self tapping screw 45 may bethreadedly engaged in opposed recesses -46 provided in the walls of theslot 44. The self-tapping screw 45 abuts and secures the end 4 1 withinthe slot 44. The end 41 may be notched, as indicated at 47, toaccommodate the length of the self-tapping screw 45 without increasingthe height of the boss element 43.

Hence to secure the electrical connector 11 in a substantially fixedposition within the enclosure the bars 4-0 are inserted through thetransverse passageways 36 and the ends 41 are inserted into the slots44. If desired, at least one of the self-tapping screws 45 may bethreaded into the opposed recesses 46 of one of the slots 44 to secureone of the ends 41 of each of the bars 40'. As can be seen, theinstallation and hence the removal of the electrical connector 11 isaccomplished in a rapid and easy manner.

Bar-Receiving Means, Alternative Embodiments Alternative embodiments ofthe bar-receiving means 42 are illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5.Corresponding numerals are employed to identify corresponding partsalready described.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4, the face of the end 41 of thebar 40 is provided with a raised dimple 48. The dimple 48 serves toincrease the thickness of the end 41 so that a tight fitting engagementis assured when the end 4-1 is inserted into the slot 44- of the bosselement 43.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5, two bars 40 are requiredwhose ends 41 rest within a U-shaped boss element 50. As in the previousembodiments the U-shaped boss element 50 extends inwardly from each sidewall of the enclosure if}. An elongated wedge 51 is wedged between theends 41 of the bars 40 so that it is in tight fitting engagementtherewith. i

It should be evident from the foregoing detailed description, that thepresent invention provides a novel mounting means (a) for securing anelectrical connector in a substantially fixed position; ([1) wherein aplurality of three-piece units, comprising an electrical connector, aremaintained in side-by-side alignment; and (c) whereby an electricalconnector may be installed or removed in a rapid and easy manner.

We claim:

1. In a housing for an electrical connector element,- the saidelectrical connector element comprising at least one three-piece unit,said three-piece unit comprising a male plug and a female plug havingconfronted faces, a spacer member positioned intermediate the ends ofone said face, said spacer member maintaining the said confronted facesin spaced relation, a flange on one end of each said plug, said flangesbeing a continuation of the said confronted faces and extending inopposite directions, fastener means extending through each said flangeand into the plug opposite thereto, each said fastener means and saidflange and one end of said spacer member and the face opposite the saidflange defining a transverse passageway, and said housing comprisingsidewalls, end Walls and a top wall, an improved mounting means forsecuring the said electrical connector element within the said housingcomprising:

a flat bar extending through one said transverse passageway With its endprojecting beyond the sides of said electrical connector; and

bar-receiving means on the said side walls of the said housing, saidends of said flat bar being secured within the said bar-receiving meanswhereby the said 4 electrical connector is maintained in a substantiallyfixed position.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said barreceiving meanscomprises:

a boss element extending inwardly from each of said side walls of saidhousing, each said boss element having a longitudinal slot therein, saidends of said fiat bar being disposed in tight fitting engagement in saidslot.

3. The improvement of claim 2 including:

at least one screw threadedly engaged in one of said slots, said screwabutting the said end of said flat bar and thereby rigidly securing thesaid flat bar within the said slot.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the said barreceiving meanscomprises:

a boss element extending inwardly from each of said side walls of saidhousing, each said :boss element having a longitudinal slot therein; and

a dimple on the face of said ends of said flat bar, said ends andthesaid dimple being disposed within the said slot whereby the said endsare engaged in tight fitting relation with said slot.

5. The improvement of claim 1 including a second flat bar extendingthrough the other of said transverse passageway, said bar-receivingmeans comprising:

a U-shaped boss element extending inwardly from each of the said sidewalls of said housing, said ends of the said flat bars resting withinthe said U-shaped boss element; and a an elongated wedge positionedbetween the said ends of said flat bars, said elongated wedge beingdisposed therein in tight fitting engagement within said boss element.

6. Apparatus for rigidly mounting an electrical connectorelement, thesaid electrical connector element comprising a plurality of three pieceunits, each of said three piece units comprising a male plug and afemale plug having confronted faces, a spacer member positionedintermediate the ends of one said plug, said spacer member maintainingthe said confronted faces in spaced relation, a flange on one end ofeach said plug, said flanges being a continuation of said confrontedfaces and extending in opposite directions, fastener means extendingthrough each said flange and into the plug opposite thereto, each saidfastener means and said flange and one end of said spacer member and theface opposite the said flange defining a transverse pasageway, saidapparatus for rigidly mounting an electrical connector elementcomprising:

a bar extending through one said transverse passageway of each of saidthree-piece units whereby the said three-piece units are maintained in aside-by-side relation, said bar having ends which project beyond thesides of said electrical connector element; and

bar-receiving means adjacent to the sides of said electrical connectorelement, said ends of said bar being secured within the saidbar-receiving means whereby the said electrical connector element ismaintained in a substantially fixed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,302,137 Cook Apr. 29, 1919 2,730,685 Sperzel Jan. 10, 1956 2,790,153Arson Apr. 23, 1957 2,904,771 Burtt et al. Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 715,983 Germany Jan. 10, 1942 717,901 Germany Feb. 25, 1942149,015 Sweden Mar, 1,1955

6. APPARATUS FOR RIGIDLY MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT, THE SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF THREE PIECE UNITS, EACH OF SAID THREE PIECE UNITS COMPRISING A MALE PLUG AND A FEMALE PLUG HAVING CONFRONTED FACES, A SPACER MEMBER POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF ONE SAID PLUG, SAID SPACER MEMBER MAINTAINING THE SAID CONFRONTED FACES IN SPACED RELATION, A FLANGE ON ONE END OF EACH SAID PLUG, SAID FLANGES BEING A CONTINUATION OF SAID CONFRONTED FACES AND EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH EACH SAID FLANGE AND INTO THE PLUG OPPOSITE THERETO, EACH SAID FASTENER MEANS AND SAID FLANGE AND ONE END OF SAID SPACER MEMBER AND THE FACE OPPOSITE THE SAID FLANGE DEFINING A TRANSVERSE PASSAGEWAY, SAID APPARATUS FOR RIGIDLY MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT COMPRISING: A BAR EXTENDING THROUGH ONE SAID TRANSVERSE PASSAGEWAY OF EACH OF SAID THREE-PIECE UNITS WHEREBY THE SAID THREE-PIECE UNITS ARE MAINTAINED IN A SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, SAID BAR HAVING ENDS WHICH PROJECT BEYOND THE SIDES OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT; AND BAR-RECEIVING MEANS ADJACENT TO THE SIDES OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT, SAID ENDS OF SAID BAR BEING SECURED WITHIN THE SAID BAR-RECEIVING MEANS WHEREBY THE SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ELEMENT IS MAINTAINED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED POSITION. 